Opening Session
Keynote: Donna Beegle, Communication Across Barriers
Piece by Piece: Working Together to Make a Difference
This keynote provides an authentic opportunity to gain concrete tools for helping people to move out of poverty. Dr. Donna Beegle shares an insider’s perspective on the critical pieces needed for working together to make a difference. After dropping out of school at 15 and spending much of her first 26 years of life homeless, Donna returned to school, achieved a GED, and went on to receive a Doctorate. She shares her personal experiences of moving out of poverty with 18 years of study and research on “what works.” Get ready to make a difference for those you serve!
Donna Beegle, is a highly experienced national public speaker, discussion leader, trainer, and the author of articles providing insights and strategies for communicating more effectively across race, class, gender and generational barriers. Donna’s inspiring story and work have been featured in newspapers around the nation, on local TV and on National programs such as PBS. Her book, See Poverty: Be The Difference, is now available and Donna’s work on poverty is being featured in a PBS documentary titled, Invisible Nation, airing in September 2007. Donna is currently President of Communication Across Barriers, a consulting firm devoted to improving communication and relationships. Donna is also founder and CEO of the new nonprofit, PovertyBridge which is dedicated to changing lives for people in poverty.
Monday, November 26, 2007 • 12:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Closing Session
Keynote: Robert Deegan, Superintendent/President, Palomar College
I Did It! And You Did Too!
How I moved from a welfare family to becoming a successful community college President. Successful CalWORKS Community College students will be honored as they share their stories.
Robert Deegan became the ninth Superintendent/President of Palomar College and the Palomar Community College District on January 14, 2005. Mr. Deegan came to Palomar from Santiago Canyon College in Orange County, where he served as Vice President of Student Services, and was instrumental in developing strategies for increasing enrollment and developing a comprehensive student services program. Prior to his position at Santiago Canyon, Mr. Deegan was a faculty member at Irvine Valley College, where he taught and counseled for 19 years, held many leadership offices, and was selected twice to fill one-year terms as Interim Vice President of Student Services. Mr. Deegan earned both his bachelor’s degree in psychology and master’s degree in counseling at San Francisco State University. He currently is completing work at Oregon State University on a doctoral degree in education with an emphasis in community college leadership.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007 • 10:15 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.